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“We are very excited about this development because the RGR valves are installed in conjunction with our products in most installations and therefore further enhance our product offering to the client. We will also be able to carry out repairs of the entire RGR product range at our new facility in Kitwe,” explains Sandri.
Hard rock drilling
Scamont has since the early 1980s manufactured a range of pneumatic rockdrill machines typically used for long hole boring in the mines in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The range is known as the SRD123 and Sandri highlights: “The level of accuracy required in the manufacture of the parts for these machines is extreme and one that we have developed a strong competency in. “Clients often asked us whether we would consider looking at other elements of the rock drilling environment, which led us to where we are today; with a product that promises to revolutionise rock drilling and provide value to our customers. “The Shova is a new semimechanised rock drill technology suitable for application across all hard rock mining environments from ultralow stoping widths through to gully and development end applications whilst keeping rock drill operator (RDO) safety and productivity as the primary driver of the design.” According to recent studies, only 30 percent of South Africa’s platinum
Adding the final touches - clearwater pump repair process
Members of the SKMS Zambia team at the Kitwe office. (L-R) Sepiso Mukoshya, Commercial Manager; Emmison Kiluba; Sales Representative and Gerritt Stassen, Technical Director
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The level of accuracy required in the manufacture of the parts for these machines is extreme and one that we have developed a strong competency in
production is derived from mechanised mining and the remaining 70 percent remains unmechanised. The major contributor to this statistic is that the average dip of the Merensky and UG2 platinum reef is 18-20 degrees which, in conjunction with low stoping heights, is beyond the working capacity of all current mechanised drilling and mining equipment. The Shova provides a semimechanised solution whereby the role of the RDO is not only guaranteed but significantly improved because of the health and safety enhancements it provides as well as dramatically improving productivity. By virtue of its unique patented design, the Shova also deals with a number of very relevant current health and safety challenges faced by RDO’s including reduction of noise levels, fogging and the elimination of vibration exposure. “What is of particular interest is that the RDO can operate the machine whilst being under supported